Tanesha murder trial: Jury discharged after deadlock

A jury has been discharged after failing to reach a verdict in the trial of a man accused of participating in the fatal drive-by shooting of 17-year-old Tanesha Melbourne-Blake in north London.

Michael Clarke, 36, stood trial at the Old Bailey charged with the murder of the teenager and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. He denied all charges against him.

Judge Mark Dennis KC addressed the jurors on Friday, informing them that their service was at an end after it became clear they could not agree on a verdict. "I discharge you from returning verdicts in this case," he stated. "That means that this matter will have to be re-tried on a much later date, obviously with a fresh jury and the issues looked at by 12 fresh eyes."

The court heard that Tanesha Melbourne-Blake was shot dead in the Northumberland Park area of Tottenham in the early hours of 2 April 2018. Prosecutors suggested she may not have been the intended target of the attack.

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During the trial, Prosecutor Jocelyn Ledward KC outlined a background of "longstanding enmity" and territorial rivalry between two north London gangs: the Northumberland Park Killers (NPK) and the Wood Green Mob (WGM).

The prosecution alleged that the shooting was a retaliatory "ride-out" from Wood Green into rival territory following a "slight" against a man named Marcus La Croix. The court was told La Croix had been beaten up by men with links to the NPK in the early hours of 1 April 2018.

Ms Ledward described the violence as a series of "tit-for-tat incidents." However, Clarke maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings, asserting that he was not present in the vehicle used during the shooting.

The judge told the jury not to be despondent about the outcome, noting that a retrial will now be scheduled to ensure the case is resolved.

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